Origin
Auburn, WA
Morning in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
7:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, WA to Lakewood, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
20.8 mi
33 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Lakewood, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Auburn, WA to Lakewood, WA is 20.8 miles and takes about 30m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive primarily on major highways, connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region of Washington state. Given its brief duration and limited stops, this trip is ideal for a quick transfer or a day trip with plenty of time for activities at your destination. You'll find this route to be very functional, focusing on efficient travel rather than scenic detours. Plan for a simple journey with minimal logistical planning required.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 13.4 mi | 16m |
| State Route 18 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| 100th Street Southwest | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Bridgeport Way Southwest | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| C Street Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Tacoma Way | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| WA 512 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 13.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Lakewood, WA.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
C Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WA 18 West
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto WA 18
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
8
Merge onto I 5
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 127
Toward WA 512 East: South Tacoma Way, Puyallup
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward South Tacoma Way
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto WA 512
383 ft
·
7 sec
·
WA 512
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto South Tacoma Way
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Tacoma Way
14
Turn slight left
151 ft
·
11 sec
15
Turn left onto 100th Street Southwest
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
100th Street Southwest
16
Turn slight right onto Bridgeport Way Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bridgeport Way Southwest
17
Turn sharp left onto Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest
31 ft
·
0 sec
·
Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest
18
Arrive at destination
Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 18.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
C Street Southwest
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
8
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway Sou...
8
18.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward WA 512 East: South Tacoma Way, Puyallup
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 127
Toward WA 512 East: South Tacoma Way, Puyallup
7
18.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward South Tacoma Way
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward South Tacoma Way
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.35 one way
$8.71 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $4.57 | $9.13 |
| premium | $5.77 | $4.72 | $9.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.59 | $9.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.18 | $1.00 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lakewood, WA
Morning in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
7:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 78% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion on I 5, including one stretch of 13.4 miles without needing to exit. While I 5 and State Route 18 offer efficient travel, the route also incorporates 100th Street Southwest, introducing a brief local road element towards the end. Expect smooth, consistent driving conditions for the most part, with the character shifting slightly as you transition from interstate to surface streets.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near C Street Southwest.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 20.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (C Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburn, WA and Lakewood, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma and Puyallup.
Tacoma
3.4 mi in
|
~5m
Puyallup
18.2 mi in
|
~24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 20.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.4 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lakewood, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (C Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakewood, WA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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